Tuesday, April 15, 2003

Over at medianews they're concerned about the fact that Michael Wolff didn't name the "CENTCOM uber-civilian, a thirtyish Republican operative." One letter writer goes as far as to accuse Wolff of creating a composite character. I have no idea why Wolff didn't name the guy, and we can't know for sure who it is, but I think Digby's guess is probably correct:

Signaling the high interest in improving the military's image is the appointment of [Jim] Wilkinson as spokesman for CENTCOM. A veteran White House publicist as well as a Navy Reserve lieutenant, Wilkinson headed the anti-Taliban Coalition Information Center during the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan and was spokesman for the Bush campaign in Miami-Dade County during the Florida recount after the 2000 election.

Wilkinson's political credentials have aroused journalistic concerns that the Bush administration, not known for its openness, is trying to control the message and use it for re-election purposes in the 2004 campaign.